Introduction

Terrain Navigator includes the ability to size the layers (markers, routes, tracks, etc.) individually and globally. It also can size layers relative to the scale of the map, or independent of map scale. The controls for modifying the size of each individual layer are accessed by that layer's edit window. (For example, right-click on a marker, and choose Edit.) The global settings (which affect all layers) are found in the View menu, under Layer Size/Visibility.

Accessing the Sizing Controls

Layers (including Markers, Routes, Tracks, and Labels) are separate from the base map image. Because of their scalable nature, layers can be sized to meet your viewing preferences - or that of the project. Open the View menu and choose Layer Size/Visibility to choose what layers you want to show on the map and how you wish to size them. (Alternatively, you may access the Layer Size/Visibility options by pressing its button on the toolbar, or by opening the Preferences window and choosing Layer Size/Visibility. Terrain Navigator will save your layer size and visibility settings from session to session.

The Sizing controls allow you to specify how large or small all layers will appear on the screen. Drag the sizing slider to make all layers appear smaller or larger. As you slide this control, the main map window will change accordingly.

You can also Conform the layer size to match the map scale. This allows the layers to retain their dimensions regardless of the zoom level or scale of the map. Some examples of this are displayed below.

Conforming Layer Size to Map Scale

Terrain Navigator Pro includes the ability to size your layers based upon, or independent of the map scale. Depending on how you are using your maps, both methods are valuable.

When Conform layer size to map scale is checked on, the size of the layer will change as you adjust the scale or zoom level of the base map (or photo) being viewed. The advantage to this is that the same ground distance is always covered; the disadvantage is that the symbol and text will get really big and really small as you go through the various map scales and zoom levels.

For example, suppose you placed a marker on Geneva Lake in 1:1 zoom on a 1:24,000 topographic map. The result may look something like this:

With Conform layer size to map scale turned on, switching to a 1:100,000 scale (less detailed) map will show like this:

This is because the marker symbol and the text size are retaining their geographic shape, relative to the map scale.

Likewise, if you zoom in on the 1:24,000 scale map to 2:1, the text and marker will get larger in size:

This is very useful if you want the symbol (or route line thickness, or any other layer property) to always cover the same space on the ground regardless of scale. For example, if you set your route thickness to match the width of a road you wish to construct, then zoom in on that map (or an aerial photo), the road will retain its width.

In all cases, you can drag the sizing control slider to adjust the layer size to match the scale (and/or zoom) at which you are currently viewing your map. However, this could have unexpected results when you have painstakingly set the size to match a physical ground distance, then slide everything to a new size.

When Conform layer size to map scale is checked off, the layers will retain their sizing regardless of the map scale. In other words, the marker and text size will always be the same point size as you switch between the various scales and zoom levels. This can be advantageous, as you will always see the marker and the text; however, as you view a wider area, the screen can get very cluttered.

For example, suppose you placed a marker on Geneva Lake in 1:1 zoom on a 1:24,000 topographic map. The result may look something like this:

With Conform layer size to map scale turned off, switching to a 1:100,000 scale (less detailed) map will show like this:

This is because the marker symbol and the text size are retaining their point size, regardless of the map scale.

Likewise, if you zoom in on the 1:24,000 scale map to 2:1, the text and marker will still stay the same size:

This is very useful if you want the symbol (or route line thickness, or any other layer property) to always be visible, regardless of scale. For example, if you wish to provide a broad overview of a road you wish to construct, then zoom out on that map (or switch to a less-detailed scale, such as 1:100,000 or 1:250,000) and the road will always be clearly visible.

In all cases, you can drag the sizing control slider to adjust the layer size to match the scale (and/or zoom) at which you are currently viewing your map. However, this could have unexpected results when you have painstakingly set the point sizes in a particular fashion, then slide everything to a new size.